Bottle-labeling machine.



PATENTED JUNE 26,1906.

N. MUSLAR. BOTTLE LAABBLING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED 0OT.22. 1903.

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TEL/fesses 1 l @wf M.

N. M USLAR. BOTTLE .LABELING MACHINE.

' APPLIOATION FILED 00115.22. 1903.

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, PATENTED JUNB26, 1 906 No, 824,569. PATBNTBD JUNE 26, 1906.l

N. MUSLAR.

BOTTLE LABELING MACHINE. .APPLIUATION r1LEDooT.22.1eoa.

@QM Y l To all whom it may con/cern;`

UNITED PATENT OFFICE- r NELsoNviviUsLAR, 'or WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, As'sIeNoR, BY

MESNASSLGNMENS, TO STANDARD` lLABELINGrv MACHINE COM- y 2 PANY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS-A CORPORATION OF MASSA- cHUsErrs. I l

Specification of Letters Patentfi BOTTLE-LABE'LING MACHINE.

Patented Julie 26, 1 906.

. ippiicaipnned oaobervzaieo. salama. 178.990.

Be it known that IVNELSONv MUsLAR, a

y citizen. of the United States, residing at .Worcesten in the county of Worcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and yuseful Bottle Labeling Machine, of which the following is a specification.

The object of thisv invention is to provide a g new and improved labeling-machine, espe- '1o cially ,adapted for applying. labels to bottles.

' The same consists in Aits essential features of pickers, to the interior of which paste or um is supplied in any suitable way, as by a orcin device or pump. l Said pickers are provil ed with fine holes in the faces-thereof, which engage the labels to gum the labels. The forcing rdevice is operated to cause the paste or gum to exudefrom the neopenings in the faces of the pickers, but notto drop therefrom. The pickers are then brought into contact' with a pile of labels. By this arrangement as the ypickers thus engage each label in turn a line or lines of paste will vbe applied thereto conforming to the shape oft e faces ofthe pickers. By this construction'a very simple and eHicient pasteapplying mechanism is provided, which does away with all extraneous rollers, distributing devices, or gummin'g mechanisms for the pickers. After the pickers engage a' label in this wayl the same move to position over a label-"applying device. This label-applying device consists of wipers and a mechanism for moving-'the bottle down against the gummed label, so as to force the bottle andk gummed label through the wipers and to a p ply the label smoothly to the periphery o ftliie 'when the bottle is ottle.'4 Arranged in connection with the label-applying mechanism is a starting or tripping'mechanism, constructed so that 1placed in position in the label-applying mec anism the machine will start in operation and go through the proper cycle to apply the label to said bottle and bring or stop the machine in readiness and position for'the next operation."

In the accompanying six sheets of drawings is shown a mechanism which has been developed to carry out the principles of this invention;

,Referring to said drawings, Fi re 1 is a side elevation of the machine.` ig. 2,V is a front elevation thereof. Figs. 3, 4, and 5 are enlarged front elevations of the label-apply ing device, showing the way the label is applied to the bottle., Figs. 6 and 7' are enlarged plan views showing the icker in two forms.. Figs.I 8 and 9 are si e -elevations illustrating the movement of the pickers to take a label and bring the same to the labelapplying device. F1g.`,10 is a front view of t e picker-supports. Figs. ,11, and 12 are sectional elevations illustrating the operation of the mechanism which carries the pile of f labels. Fig. 13 is a plan view illustrating the adjusting mechanism on the table which carries the labels. Fig. 14 is an enlarged side elevation illustrating the driving mechanism for the `various parts of the machine., Figs. 15 and 16 are side elevations, and Fig. 17 a sectional view, illustrating the operation of the starting or tripping devices. Figs. 18'

and 19 are sectional views illustrating the pump or forcing device. Fig. 20 .is a plan view illustrating the operating-cams for the pump, and Fig. 2l is a view showing the parts of the pump separately.

Referring to the drawings and in detail, A desi nates a suitable pedestal iitted on a hub, ont e top of which isa frame B. Bolted to the side of the frame B is a bracket C, securedto the top `of Whichis a table or basepiece D. Bolted or secured to the front of the table are 'brackets I10,1secured to the top of which are holding-pieces 11, which hold the Wipers 12,. The Wipers l2 are made out of strong'flexible material, as rubber cloth or molded canvas and rubber. A bottle pushing or forcing arm 13, which has a cushioned or rubber face 14, is arranged to vengage the bottle. The arm 13 is attached to a slide 15, itted to vertical rods 16, projecting 'u from the table D. vConnected to the sli e is a pron ed bracket 17, carrying a `pin 1,8, to whic is pivoted a link or pitman 19, o erated from a crank-pin 20. lFitted to sli e in ways 21, arranged at the side of the table D,

arm 26, which carries hubs 27 for the pickers. Fitted in each hub 27 is a stud 28, hung on which isa bracket 29. The brackets 29 are pulled together by a spring 30, as shown in Fig. 4, and their motion is limited by nipples 3l. made fiat, and fitted on the same are pickers 32. The joints between the pickers 32 and the brackets 29 lie in a horizontal plane, as shown. A bolt 33 is passed through each end of each pickerand threaded into the end picker is provided with fine holes 35, through 'rately set.

which the paste or gum can exude. These holes are arranged in proper position and line, s that the pickers will apply the desired line of paste to each label in turn. lBy this arrangement it will b e seen that the pickers 32 are hung on the studs 28 as pivots, so as to be capable of an oscillating motion, and that they are spring-pressed toward each other. It will also be noted that the pickers 1'can be adjusted on the bolts'33. By this construction the pickers can be very accu- The pickers 32 (shown in the principal figi ures` of the drawings) can be easily removed and'other pickers substituted, depending on the particular shape of the label to be used. Thus, for example, in Fig. 7 a picker 320 is shown adapted for a square label.

Projecting from the under side of the arm 26 is a hub 36, fitted into which is a slidingx A screw 38 is threaded'into thisv piece 37. piece 37. A plate 39 is formed on theend of the screw 38, and a check-nut 40 is arranged on said screw.. By this arrangement Ithe plate can be adjusted relatively to the sliding piece 87. The plate 39 is sha ed to engage the end ofthe bottle E. The s 'ding piece 37 engages 'a bell-crank lever 41, which is piv oted in the arm 26 and which has a spring 42 normally pushing. the same to one position. The free end of the bell-crank lever 41 is adjusted to position to engage a notch 43, formed in. a rod 44, fitted to slide in a hub or bearing piece 45 secured to the table D. This rod 44 is normallypushed down b a s ring 46, fitted in said hub 45. The en of t 's rod 44 forms a connection to the starting or tripping mechanism,` as hereinafter described.

47 designates a label-support, which is cut away, as shown in Fig. 13. A rod 48 is fittedv The end of each of the brackets l29 isv in said support. Label-supporting pieces 49 49 are fitted to the part 47 and to sald rod 48'. A double screw 50 1s threaded to engage said supporting-pieces 49. The right-hand portion of the screw 50 is reversably threaded relatively t0 the left-hand portion. The

double screw 50 has ajoining-collar 51, which `is'fittedi betweenlugs on the piece 47.

By this arrangement the label-supporting pieces 49 49 can be ad'usted to engage the label properly and the iabel still kept at the proper center. -The tops of the pieces 49 49 can be removed and replaced by other pieces, so that the device can be used for different shapes of labels. The su port 47 is fitted'to slide on a block 52 and is ield in adjusted p0- sition by a screw 53. The block 52 is arranged on a rod 54, and a guiding-rod 55 projects downwardly frorn the same through a hole cut in the table D. The rod 54 is fitted into a hollow rod or pipe 56, in which is fitted a spring 57, en aging the end of the rod 54. An adjustable racket 58 is secured to the hollow rod 56, and engaging the same is a bell-crank lever 59, mounted on a pivot 60.- The lever 59 has a roller 61 at its free end which engages a cam 62. By this arrangement when the pickers are brought over a pile of labels the labels will move-upwardly, so as to bring the pile of labels into contact with the pickers, the spring 57 providing the lost motion necessary to get a forcible application of the labels to the pickers and for the lost motion necessary as the pile of labels diminishes. By this means a forcible and continued pressure is obtained to apply each label in turn to the pickers.

The forcing device or pump 63 is secured to a lug projecting from the arm 26. A paste or gum ot 64 is mounted on a bracket IOO extending up om the table, as shown. This pot connects by a flexible pipe 65 tothe inductionf assage 66 of the pump.. A valve 67 is usua ly arranged at the bottom of the pasteot. vp The details of the puinp are shown in Figs. 18 to 20, inclusive. The pump in detail consists of a casing, fitted into which is a piston 68, mounted on a piston-rod 69. The upper portion of the iston-rod is fitted into a nut 70, which is threaded into the top of the casing. A pin 71 is secured in the upper end of the piston-rod to limit the downward movement thereof. The nut 70 is provided with a collar which has lholes to receivea spannerwrench or piiiJ By adjusting the nut the limit of the downward movement of the pist0n can be regulated. A strong spring 72 is arranged in the casing on top of the piston to push the piston down. Secured in the bottom 1part of the casing is a nut 73, fitted in whic is the projecting hub 74 of a valve 75. The piston-rod 69 extends through this valve, as shown. The valve is made in the form` of a cylinder having two-flat or recessed por- IIO tions 76. The valve is arranged in position in a common assage-way 660, which extends down throng a rib on the side of the casing to aposition in the same horizontal plane with the induction-passage 66. When the valve is turned to the position shownin Fig. 18, the upward movement of thev piston will draw paste lor gum into the casing. Then if the4 valve is turned the induction will be cut oif and the space between the iston and lthe valve will be ,connected with t e' eduction, so"

that a downward movement of the piston will then forcel'paste lout through the eduction-passage. cam-piece 77 is secured on the valve-stem 69 tocontrol the valve. This cam-piece is provided with three wings yor projections 78, 7 9, and'80. A plate/81 is secured on hubs projecting up from the table. This plate has pins 82 and 83 and a projection 84 for operating the cam 77, and a cam 85, which engages the 4end of the piston-rod to operate the pump. l y

The pump is shown in normal position in Fig. 18. If lnow the sliding block 22 is moved toward the rear ofthe machine, the projecnow the pump. startson its movement toward ,j the front-,of the machine, the projection 80v tion 80 on the cam-piece 77 will engage the rib 84,and turnfthe valve to the position shown in'Fig. A19, thus connecting the eduction ofthe pump with'the casing. After the valve assumes this position the piston-rod will' run downy the end of the cam 85 and the spring 72 will force the piston down. This will force the proper quantity of paste or gumout through-the eductionassage 660l to the pickers, lIt will be noticed that as the pump moves toward the rear the action of the projection on ,the rib'84 is a trailing action.- When the pump nearly reaches its extreme rearmost position,I the rejections 7 Swill engage the pin83v and. slightly turn the valve, as indicated in dottedlines in Fig. 20. When will engage ,thelrib 84 and will lturn' the valve from the position.:shoiwi'i.- in Fig. 19 back to nearly the position shownin- Fig 18, so that as the pump-piston runsfiupthe .cam85 the induction-passage; will be connected =to' the casing, an the eduction-passage cut'oH so that a fresh charge of gumwill b'e'drawninto the casing, the projection 80-trailingon the rib l 84. en thepump nearly reaches the extreme of its forward'motion, the' proj ection`79 will engage the pin 82-'and slightly.t turn the valve to the originalposition; so that 'the projection. 80 stands in position to engage the rear.

of gum or paste will befcaused to -exude from their faces throughl the liine'holes, so' that the same will-piek up the label' 'with a'fr'eshlygunnned-surfacefThe amo'untpof the sleeve 87, and fitted in the sleeve is a shaft 88, on the end of which is mounted a pulley 89. 90, which has a flat or smooth portion 91, a lifting-wall 92, a flat orplane portion 93, and a' double-walled returning portion 94. Formed on the side of the bearing 86 are ways 95, 'fitted in which is a slide 96, which has a roller 97 engagin said cam 90. Said slide has a pin 98, whic engages the lower slotted end of 'the pivoted lever 24. B this arrangement the hollow block 22 ,an hence. the pickers and the pump, will be moved backward and forward at the proper times. The cam 62, hereinbefore referred to, for operating the label-sup ort is formed' on an enlargement ofthe s eeve 87 at the right of the bearing 86 in Fig. 14. On the right-hand end of the shaft 88 is secured one section 99 of av toothed clutch, and the other section 100 of the toothed clutch .is fitted on the righthand end of the sleeve 87. Rods 101 project from the vclutch-section 100 'and extend through holes bored in the enlargement" of the sleeve 87. Theserods have enlargements at their ends, and springs are arranged to engage said enlargements. One of said rods is extended beyond its enlargement in line tol engage ahole 103, bored in the ri -ht-hand end of the bearing'86. The clutc -section` 100 is cam-shaped, as at 104, where it is engaged by the rod 44, so that when the'rod 44' sprmgs down said clutch-section 1 00 will be moved to the right to'engage the clutch-section 99. A partial peripheral'cam 105 is 'alsov formed on said clutch 100, so that as the same revolves the rod 44 will be lifted and restored to normal position, soy that it will be caught and held by lever 41. The cam, 1'05 passes from beneath the rod 44 after the same is re-v stored to normal position, so that the rod 44 normally stands in position to engage the cam 104 on its' next downward movement. A n irregular-shaped arm 106 extends from said clutch-section 100 and carries the crankpin 20, which operates the bottle pushing or forcing arm 13. .After the two clutch-sec-- tions arebrou ht together by the rod 44 the "sleeve will ma e one revolution, the project- Secured on the sleeve 87 is a face-cam- IOO Iss

IIO

ingend of the rod 101 engaging the hole 103 The operation is as follows: Starting with 'to stop the motion .after a vcomplete revolui tion has'been made.

the pile' of labels in place and the device properly charged with gi1m,lthe machine is oper- 'ated once by pushing in with the fin ers on the, plate .39. This will cause the pic ers to lgurnand take `up a labelv and bringthe samev jas into positiony over the wipers as shown in Fig. 3. A bottle is now takenand inserted under the bottle-pushing arm 13, the backs of the pickers formin a guide for this purpose. As the bottle 1s. inserted roperly in osition in this Way it will strike tiie plate 39.

his will release the starting mechanism and will brin the machine into operation. The first motion of the machine will bea down- .ward movement of the arm 13, which will lforce the bottle Vdown between the pickers into contact with the gummed label. .The pickers will swing out of the way, yas shown 1n Figi/1, leaving the' label between the bottle and the wipers. The continued downward motion,y of the arm 13 will force the bottle down clear throu h or between the wipers and will nicelyT and evenly apply the label to the bottle, as shown' in Fig. 5. The neck of the bottle is held in the hand of the operator,

so that just as soon as the bottle is forced betweenthe wipers it is taken out by .the operator, and by the time the operator can. lay that. bottle down and take up a fresh bottle the machine is in position for the next o eration. During the movement shown in Pligs. 3 and 4 the flat portion 91 of the cam 90 engages the roller 97. Hence there is no movement of the hollow block 22 but so soon as the bottle is forced down between the wipers f theA lifting portion 92 of the cam comes lnto operation and causes the hollow block 22 to 'move backward. 4This by the mechanism previously described will bring the pickers over the labels and at the same time will operate the forcing device to cause a thin film of paste or gum to exude from the faces thereof. The flat portion of the cam 93 now engages the roller 97. This will cause the pick- -by the operator.

ers todwell over the pile of labels,.and whilesaid roller the cam 62- comes into operation and lifts the pile of labels forcibly into contact withthe gummed pickers and then allows the pile of labels to drop down. This action causes the top label to be left on thepickers. The double-walled portion 94 of the cam now comes into operation and returns the hollow bloc'k 22 land the various parts movingv therewith to normal vposition with a freshly-gummed label in position over the wipers for the next operation.

An operator can become very expert with the machine, and bottles can be labeled as fast as the same ,can be inserted in position Each time a bottle is inserted the machine is started and goes through' its proper cycle of operation. The bottle is forced through thewipers, so as to be labeled, anda fresh label is picked upfand brought into position, so that when the .ma-` chine stops after one revolution ofthe sleeveJVA 87 the parts are in position for an immediate l.operation the next time..

.portant advantage of the construction resides v A further and imin the fact that the paste or gum is contained entirely-within closed passa es, or, in other words, is hermetically sealer When the machine is left standing for some time, all that is necessary is to put a piece of damp cloth between the pickers and the wipers.` .If this is done, the machine is ready for use at any time. When a labeling-machine constructed on the schemes of the prior art is not used for some time, it is necessary to lclean-up all the rolls, pickers, and distributin'g devices. This is `usually a hard task. Moreover, the hardened paste or gum is difficult to get off, and if not pro erly cleaned the machine is apt to be crlpp ed. I All this is dispensed with by the improved construc-v tion of pickers and forcing device shown in this application for patent. As the term forcing device is used it is meant to'include a device which operates by gravity or pressure as well as a pump, andv where the term means for operating the same or equivalentwording 1s used is meant to include a device b which the fiow of paste is caused or by which it is timed by the power used inoperating the machine.

Various other mechanisms may be worked out and developed to carry out the broad principle of this invention as originally stated Vin this specification. The details and mechanisms ma also be broadly varied and modified by a lS illed mechanic without departinv fromthe scope of this invention as expressed in the claims.

Havin thus fully described my invention, what I c aim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is* l 1. In a labeling-machine, the combination of a hollow picker having an outlet in its label-engaging face, means for laterally moving the picker whereb the labels may be picked up and delivere to the point of application to the bottle, positively-operated regulable devices for forcing a predetermined uantity of paste out through the outlet in t e picker-face after each dellvery operation, for the pu ose set forth.

2. In ala sling-machine, the combination of a label-applying device, pickers provided with holes in the faces thereof which engage the labels, a forcing device, means for operating the pickers to take labels from a pile and carry the same` to the label-ap lyinggdevice, and means foroperating the orcin device to cause gumor paste to exude from t e pickers each timepthey engage a label. Y

`3. In a labeling-machine, the combination of a label-applying,device,.pickers rovided with holes inthe faces thereof whic engage the labels, a forcing device, means for operating the pickers to take labels from a pile :and carry the same to a label-ap lying device, and means for operating the orcingdevice to cause gum or paste to exude from the pickers as theyv are on their return stroke' Y forcing device for the paste included in said` from the label-applying device to the pile of labels.

4. In a labeling-machine, the combination of a label-applying device, means for operating the same, pickers provided `with holes in the faces thereof, which engage the labels, a

forcing device for the paste connected to the pickers, and connections for operating the forcing device from the means which operates the label-applying device so that gum or paste will becaused to exude from the pickers (pnly as the label-applying vdevice is operate i 5. In a labeling-machine, the combination of a label-applying device, means for operating the same, ickers for engaging and carrying forward t e labels, a paste-reservoir, a connection from the same to the pickers, a

connection, and means for operating the forcing device.

6. Ibn a labeling-machine, the combination of label-supporting mechanism, label-ap lying mechanism, a reciprocating block, hoHow pickers carried thereby and moving between said label-supporting mechanism and labelalpplying mechanism and having line holes in t e aces thereof which engage thelabels, a

' forcing device for the gum or paste and -ing mechanism, a block,

means for o erating the forcing device.

7. In a la eling-machine, the combination of label-supporting mechanism, label-applying mechanism,'a block, hollow brackets ivoted thereto, interchangeable hollow pic ers secured to said brackets and having' holes in the faces thereof which engage the labels, a forcing device for the gum or paste connected to said brackets, and means for reciprocating said block between said label-su porting mechanism and label-applying meclganism.

8. In a labeling-machine, the combination of label-supporting mechanism, label-apply,-

ickers carried thereby-and having holes in t e faces thereof which engage the fabels, a forcing device for the paste connected to said ickers and carried by said block, means or movin said block to move the pickers between the abelsupporting mechanism and label-applying mechanism, and means for operating. ythe forcing device from said movement.

Q. In a labeling-machine, the combination of pickers having holes in their label-engaging faces, means for laterally moving the pickers from the pile of labels to the, point of application and back again, and positivelyoperated regulable pumping means for forcing the paste through the holes in the pickerfaccs after each delivery of a label, substantially as set forth.

10. In a labeling-machine, the combination of a reci rocating block carrying pickers, a. pump fgr the paste or gum connected thereto, a valve in said ump, and means for operating the valve an pump from the reciprocating movement of the block.

11. In a labeling-machine, the combination 'of label-supporting mechanism, labela plying mechanism, pickers having holes in tffe faces thereof which engage the labels, means for reciprocating the pickers between the label-supporting mechanism and labelapplying mechanism, a forcing device for supplying paste or gum to the pickers, means for reciprocating t e ickers and operating the forcing device, an a starting or trip ing mechanism operated by the insertion o the bOttl;

12. In a labeling-machine, the combination of label-supporting mechanism, labelapplfying mechanism, ickers having holes in the aces thereof whic engage the labels, a forcing device for supplying gum or aste to the pickers, means for reci rocating t e pickers, means for lifting the abels into contact with the pickers, means for operating the forcing device, and a starting and stopping mechanism operated by the insertion of the bottle and arranged to start the machine in operation, so that it will go through the pro er cycle to apply the label to said bottle an stop the machine in lreadiness and Dosition for the next operation.

13. In a labeling-machine, the combination of label-applying mechanism, pickers, means for operating the label-applying mechanism and the pickers consist-ing of a continuousl. -revolving shaft carrying one member of a c utch-section, aloose clutch-section conl nected to operate the arts, `a spring-pressed rod for engaging said oose clutch-section, a lever for engaging said rod, connections therefrom arranged in position to be engaged by the bottle,and a cam on the clutchsection for restoring the rod to normal position.

14. In a labeling-machine, the combination of label-applying. mechanism, pickers, a forcing device connected to the pickers, and means for operating the label-applying mechanism and reciprocating the pic ers ,and forcing device consisting of a' continuously-revo ving shaft, a clutch-sectiony thereon, a loose clutch-section, connections extending therefrom in position to be operated by the insertion of the bottle, connections from said loose clutch-section to the label-applying ioo mechanism, and a' cam connected to turn with said loose clutch-section to reciprocate said-pickers and forcing device.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto setI my hand in the presence of two subscribing 

